Apparatus for the compaction of refuse material and the like

ABSTRACT

Compaction apparatus in which a material receiver chamber and a container are supported upon a carriage which tilts out of a cabinet to permit material to be inserted into the receiver chamber and which returns to a rest position within the cabinet for the compaction operation. Hydraulic rams pull a cylindrical compaction blade downwardly through the access opening of the receiver chamber, and the initial movement of the blade locks the carriage in its rest position. A carriage door permits the removal of the loaded container, and a latch holds the carriage in its rest position when the container is removed. A system of electrical interlocks ensures safe operation.

United States Patent [191 Clar APPARATUS FOR THE COMPACTION OF REFUSEMATERIAL AND THE LIKE Milton Clar, 9408 Linden Ave., Bethesda, Md.

Filed: Jan. 14, 1974 Appl. No.: 433,108

Related U.S. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 261,325,June 9, 1972,Pat. No. 3,861,296.

Inventor:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ll/l967 Hopkins 100/229 A 3/1973Quinto 100/269 R X [111 3,913,475 [451 Oct. 21, 1975 PrimaryExaminerBilly J. Wilhite Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Shapiro and Shapiro[57] ABSTRACT Compaction apparatus in which a material receiver chamberand a container are supported upon a carriage which tilts out of acabinet to permit material to be inserted into the receiver chamber andwhich returns to a rest position within the cabinet for the compactionoperation. Hydraulic rams pull a cylindrical compaction blade downwardlythrough the access opening of the receiver chamber, and the initial movement of the blade locks the carriage in its rest position. A carriagedoor permits the removal of the loaded container, and a latch holds thecarriage in its rest position when the container is removed. A system ofelectrical interlocks ensures safe operation.

4 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheetlof93,913,475

Sheet 2 of 9 3,913,475

U.S. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 U.S. Patnt Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet30f9 3,913,475

U.S. Patent 0a. 21, 1975 Sheet4 of9 3,913,475

FIG. 5

Sheet 5 of 9 3,913,475

US. Patnt Oct. 21 1975 US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet 6 of9 3,913,475

US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet 7 of9 3,913,475

US. Patent Oct.21,1975 Sheet8of9 3,913,475

U.S. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet 9 of9 3,913,475

FIG. /8

APPARATUS FOR THE COMPACTION OF REFUSE MATERIAL AND THE LIKE r This is adivisional'application of'Ser. No. 261,325, filed June 9, 1972 now U.S.Pat. No. 3,861,296.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates tocompactionapparatus for refuse material and the like and is moreparticularly concerned with simple and inexpensive hand-fed apparatusfor compacting material into bags or other small receptacles.

In recent years the market for refuse compaction apparatus has expandedgreatly. Various types of units have become widely available, includinglarge stationary packers which compact refuse into roll-off bodies oftrucks, smaller stationary packers which compact material intodetachable containers that are dumped into truck bodies by self-loadingmechanisms, and stationary packers which are used in conjunction withsmall receptacles such as bagsor barrels. Despite the diversity ofavailable equipment, a need has existed for a small and inexpensivehand-fed compaction apparatus for use in garden-type apartments andother establishments of limited size. Heretofore, such establishmentshave used smaller versions of complex and expensive compaction apparatusor have hadto be satisfied with rather'crude and inefficient compactionapparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of thepresent invention to provide improved compaction apparatus, which, whilesubstantially less expensive than larger units, is nonethe-less highlyefficient.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, hand-fedcompaction apparatus which may be employed safely by housewives orchildren and which compacts refuse and the like into conventionalreceptacles with high compaction ratios.

Yetanother object of the invention is to provide apparatus of theforegoing type which is not only simple to operate but which is easilyand safely maintained by custodial personnel.

Briefly stated, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is aso-called vertical packer. The compaction blade is housed within acabinet and is pulled downwardly by a pair of hydraulic rams forcompacting material through a material receiver chamber into 'acontainer. The material receiver chamber and the container are supportedupon a carriage which is pivotally mounted upon the cabinet for tiltingmovement about a horizontal axis between a rest position at which thecarriage is contained within the cabinet and an access position at whichthe upper end of the carriage tilts outwardly of the cabinet to exposethe access opening of the material receiver chamber. When the carriageis in its rest position, the access opening is inacessible, and once thecompaction apparatus has been actuated, the carriage is locked in itsrest position. When the container is full, an alarm is'given, and thecontainer is removed from the carriage by means of a door in thecarriage which may be opened by a custodian. Removal of the containerlocks the carriage in its rest position. The container is a splitcylinder, which may receive a bag therein, which in turn may receive aliner therein to protect the bag during compaction. An electrical systemensures proper and safe operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be furtherdescribed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, whichillustrate a'preferred and exemplary embodiment, and wherein FIG. 1-is aperspective view of compaction apparatus in accordance with theinvention;

. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an upper blade guide employed in theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the invention, par tially brokenaway;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the invention, par tially brokenaway;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tilting carriage;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the invention, with the to; cover removedto expose the internal parts;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the compaction blade FIG. 8 is a topplan view of the compaction blade;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a container employet in the invention,shown open;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the container, showr closed;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary tainer latch;

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view, partially broker away, showing a bagand bag-liner which may be em ployed in the container;

FIG. 13 is a top plan of the bag liner;

FIG. 14 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating III'H manner inwhich the container is positioned upon thl carriage;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary top plan view of a carriagi latch;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary side elevation view of III'N carriage latch;

FIG. 17 is a circuit diagram of the electrical systen employed in theinvention; and

FIG. 18 is a circuit diagram of the hydraulic systen employed in theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, andinitially to FIG. I thereof, the compaction apparatus of the inventiolcomprises a cabinet 10, which may be of generally rect angularconfiguration, having a carriage 12 pivotall supported thereon near thebottom of the carriage am the cabinet. In its rest position the carriageis h0LIS6( within the cabinet, but the upper end may be tilted outwardly (even beyond the position shown in FIG. 1) b pulling upon ahandle 14 to expose the access opening 16 of a material receiverchamber. The carriage is pro vided with a locked door 18 so that accessto the con tainer may be obtained by a custodian. As shown II FIG. 1,the front wall of the cabinet has a rectangula opening 20 through whichthe carriage tilts. An actua torbutton 22 and a signal lamp 24 are alsoprovidet upon the front wall; their functions will be describet morefully hereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 5, the carriage is a hollow shell hav perspective viewof a con ing the opening 16 in the top wall thereof, the top walslanting downwardly at the rear portion 22 thereof ti permit the upperend of the carriage to be tipped for wardly from the cabinet about theaxis indicated at f in FIG. 5 without interference between the top wall0 the carriage and the top edge of the opening 20 (FIG 1) through whichthe carriage tilts. The pivotal move ment is provided by means of hinges24' (FIGS. 3 am 4) supporting the bottom wall 26 of the carriage uponthe bottom frame structure of the cabinet sufficiently above the floorto permit the carriage to tilt. Stops 28 (FIGS. 3 and 4) limit theoutwardtilting movement of the carriage. Inward-tilting movement islimited by engagement of the bottom of the carriage with the bottomframe of the cabinet. The carriage has front and side walls in additionto the top and bottom walls but may be open at the back. I

'-As shown in FIG. 4,a cylindrical blade guide 30 de- I pends from theopening 16. This guide constitutes the material receiver chamber'orcharging box. Beneath the blade guide a cylindrical container 32 issupported upon the bottom wall 26 of the carriage. As shown in FIG. 14,the container is positioned against a pair of carriage standards 34, theupper portions of which assist in supporting the blade guide 30. A plate36 mounted on the back of the door 18 forces the container against thestandards 34 when the door is closed.

FIGS. 9 ll illustrate the container in greater detail. As shown, thecontainer may be a split cylinder having a pair of hemicylinder walls 38and 40 pivotally conne'cted along a longitudinal edge thereof. Adjacentto the opposite edge latches 42 are provided. The latches may be aconventional over-center type as shown in FIG. '11. A circular bottomwall 44 may be affixed to one of the walls 38 and 40, such as wall 40.During compaction the container is closed by the latches 42. It isopened to remove the compacted material.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a bag and liner assembly which may beinserted within the container. The bat 46 may be a conventional paper orplastic bag, the open end of which may be folded back to form a cuff 48over the top of the container 32. To prevent cutting of the bag by sharpfragments during compaction, a sheet metal liner 50 may be inserted inthe bag. The liner may comprise a pair of overlapped cylinder parts 52and 54, which may be constituted by a series of straight segments.Portions of the upper edges of the cylinder parts are rolled over toprovide sleeves 56 which receive a coil spring 58, the ends of which arejoined to form a continuous spring which holds the upper ends of thecylinder parts 52 and 54 together. The lower ends of the cylinder partsare free, sothat the liner may be easily liftedfromthe refuse-filled bagwith minimal resistance.

The compaction blade structure is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. Theblade 60 is tubular and may comprise a cylindrical side wall 62 closedat the bottom by a leading end wall 64, which constitutes the blade orplaten surface that actually contacts the compacted material. The top ortrailing end of the blade may be open. A bar 66 extends across the topof the blade, being supported in slots 68 in the side wall. Notchedplates 70 engage the bar from ,within the blade to stiffen the blade-barstructure, which may be welded together. Bores 72 in the ends of the barreceive pins for coupling piston rods of hydraulic rams to the bladestructure.

As shown in FIG. 3, hydraulic rams 74 are located at opposite sides ofthe carriage. The lower ends of the cylinders of the rams are connectedto the cabinet frame by means of brackets 76, the piston rods beingconnected to the blade by pins 77. The hydraulic rams are driven from apower pack designated generally by reference numeral 78 in FIG. 3 forconjointly moving said blade.

.--:Movementof the blade in the upper part of the cabinet is guided bya'split cylinder 80 shown in FIG. 2. The cylinder parts are providedwith flanges 82 joined at the upper ends thereof by blocks 84. Asshownin FIGS. 4 and 6, the cylindrical guide 80 is supported within thehousing by meansof vertical channel members 86 and 88 of the cabinetframe, which engage the lower portion of the guide. Rod 66 of the bladestructure passes through slots or channels definedby the spaced flanges82 of the blade guide. The'upper ends of channels 86 and the associatedmounting brackets for the cylindrical blade guide are also slotted asshown. in FIG. 4 for passage of the bar 66. It is apparent that thereciprocative movement of the blade is guided at different regions alongthe length of the sidewall for preventing substantial lateral movementof the sidewall inany direction perpendicular to the reciprocativemovement. FIG. 3 shows the blade at its lowermost position fullyextended through the blade guide 30 and into the container 32. In itsuppermost or fully retracted position, the lower end of the .blade isjust above the top of the carriage, permitting the carriage to be tiltedfrom the cabinet. Once the blade commences its downward movement andenters the blade guide-30, the carriage is thereby locked within thecabinet. In this position, the carriage fits closely within cabinetopening 20, so as to prevent access to the cabinet by the user.

As shown in FIG. 4, one end of the bar 66 is provided with a shoe or cam90 for actuating a group of switches LS3, LS5, LS2 and LS4 supported inthe cabinet along the path of the cam 90. The operation of theseswitches and other switches, LS1 and LS6, will become apparenthereinafter in connection with the description of FIGS. 17 and 18.

As shown in FIG. 18, the power pack for driving the hydraulic rams 74may comprise a conventional pump 91 driven by an electric motor 92. Thepump supplies hydraulic fluid to the rams 74 from. a reservoir 94 bymeans of a three-position solenoid-actuated valve 96. In the center orneutral position of the valve the hydraulic fluid is returned to thereservoir as shown in FIG. 18. When the valve is moved to the left bysolenoid A, hydraulic fluid is supplied to the tops of the cylinders ofram 74, driving the pistons downwardly for the power stroke of theblade.When the valve 96 is shifted to the right by solenoid B, the rams movethe blade in the opposite direction for its retraction stroke. Apressure switch 98 senses the hydraulic pressure supplied'to the ramsfor a purpose to be described. An overload valve is shown at 100.

FIG. 17 illustratesan electrical system for controlling the operation ofthe hydraulic system of FIG. 18. The pump motor 92 is energized from thel 15 volt AC supply when relay CR'l is energized. The energization ofrelay CR1 is initiated by momentary closure of switch PBlactuated by theactuator button 22 (see FIG. 1), a circuit being completed from the hotside of the AC supply through conductor 102, fuse 104, conductor 106,contact 108 of relay CR2, conductor 110, contacts 112 of switch PBl,conductor 114, and the coil of relay CR1 to the grounded side of the ACsupply. A holding circuit for relay CR1 is completed by the relay itselfthrough conductor 114, conductor 116,

, conductor 118,-contact of the relay, conductor 122, switch LS3, andconductor 124 back to conductor l 10. Energization of relay CR1completes a circuit for the pump motor 92 from the hot side of the ACsupply through conductor 126 and contact 128 of therelay',

one side of the motor 92- being connected to -the grounded side of thesupply by conductor 130.-

Momentary closure of switch PBl also completes a circuit forenergizingsolenoid A, through conductor 110, contacts 112, conductor150, contacts 152, switch LS5, conductor 154, contact 134 of a relayCR3, and through solenoid .A and conductor 136 to the ground conductor130. Energization of relay CR1 completes a holding circuit for solenoidA, which may be traced through conductor 1 10, conductor 124, switchLS3, conductor 122, contact 120 of relay CR1, conductor 132, and contact134 of relay CR3. l

When solenoid A is energized, the controlvalve 96 (FIG. 18) is shiftedto cause the commencement of the downward movement of the blade from itsnormal rest position near the top of the cabinet. Switch LS3 is heldopen by the cam associated with the blade when the blade is in its fullyretracted position. As the blade moves downwardly, switch LS3 closes tothe'positi0n illustrated in FIG. 17, permitting the application of powerto contact of relay CR1 and permitting completion of the circuitsthrough this contact, as referred to above. Any material in the receiverchamber and container is compacted.

When the blade reaches almost to its lowermost position, switch LS4 istransferred so as to close upon contact 138. AC power is then appliedfrom conductor 118 through switch LS4 and conductor 140 to to relay CR3,energizing relay CR3, causing the relay to transfer its contacts. Poweris then applied from conductor 132 through contact 142 to solenoid B,energizing this solenoid. Solenoid A is deenergized upon energization ofrelay CR3, because power is no longer supplied to contact 134 of therelay. When relay CR3 is energized, a holding circuit or the relay iscompleted by means of conductor 140, contact 144 and conductor 1 18 backto contact 120 of relay CR1.

Energization of solenoid B shifts the control valve 96 so as to retractthe blade. Switch LS4 opens, but the blade continues to retract until itreaches almost to its uppermost position, at which time switch LS3 isopened, breaking the holding circuit for relays CR1 and CR3 throughcontact 120. The system is thus deenergized.

Switch LS5 is a safety override switch. Once the blade has moved down afew inches, switch LS5 transfers from contact 146 to contact 148. Now,instead of energizing solenoid A through contact 146, conductor 154, andcontact 134, actuation of switch PBl closes a circuit from conductor110, through contacts 112, conductor 150, contacts 152, contact 148 ofswitch LS5, and conductor 156 to the coil of relay CR3, energizing therelay and solenoid B, and causing the blade to retract, as long asswitch P81 is held actuated. Thus, the same actuation switch may beemployed for causing the blade to move downwardly and for later causingthe blade to retract. When the blade returns to its upward position,switch LS5 transfers again to engage contact 146 to prepare the bladefor downward movement.

As the blade approaches its lowermost position, a zone switch LS2 isclosed. This will have no effect unless pressure switch 98 is closed,indicating by the hydraulic pressure (and thus the load on the blade)that the container is full. If the pressure switch is closed and switchLS2 is closed, relay CR2 will be energized, breaking the circuit tocontact 108 and removing power from conductor 110 and the componentssupplied therefrom. Power will be applied to contact 158, energizingtransformer 160 and full" indicator lamp 24 (seeFlG. 1.). A' holdingcircuit for relay=CR2 is completed through contact 162' and switch LS1,which is held in the position shown when door 18 of the carriage isclosed. Under these conditionsthe compaction blade will remain extendedinto the container, and the user will be unable to operate the blade. 1*=-whea*a custodian notices the full indication and opens the door18,switch LS lwill transfer itscon'tacts, "de-"energiz'ingrelay CR2 andlamp 24 and returning power to conductor 110. If switch FBI is thenactuated, relay CR1 and relay CR3will be energized (LS5 will be closedon Contact 148) and the blade "will retract. When the blade retractsenough to close switch L'SSon contact 146, the circuit 'to relay CR3through contact 148 will be broken, but a new circuit'will be completedthrough contact 146, conductor 154, conductor 164, contacts 166 ofswitch 'LSl, andconductor 168, to continue the retraction'of thebladeuntil the opening of switch LS3 de-energizes the pump. When anempty container is placed within the carriage and the door 18 is closed,the apparatus is ready for use again.

If an attempt is made to operate the apparatus with the carriage awayfrom its rest position, switch LS6 will close (being held open by thecarriage in its rest position), completing a circuit to relay CR3 if thesafety override switch is closed upon contact 146, and returning theblade to its fully retracted position. This may occur if the carriage isleft open for a long period and if the compaction blade driftsdownwardly because of seepage of hydraulic fluid.

The weight of the carriage with a container thereon is preferablycounterbalanced with respect to the pivotal axis A, so that a strongeffort is not required to tilt the carriage outwardly. The carriage mustbe pulled to expose the access opening 16, and if pulled out fully willmove slightly over-center. It will return to the rest position whenpushed over-center in the opposite direction. Suitable dampers 169 (FIG.4) may be employed to buffer the return of the carriage within thecabinet.

When the door 18 is opened and the container is removed, the balance ofthe carriage will change, tending to tip the carriage outwardly. Anautomatic latch 170 may be employed as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 toprevent this. The latch may comprise a lever 172 pivotally mounted onthe bottom 26 of the carriage at 174 and pressed rearwardly by thecontainer 32 against the bias of a spring 176. When the container ismoved away from channel 88, the lever 172 is turned by spring 176 untilit engages keeper 178 mounted on channel 88, latching the carriage inits rest position. When the container is replaced, the lever is moved tounlatch the carriage.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changescan be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles andspirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appendedclaims.

The invention claimed is:

l. Compaction apparatus comprising a cabinet having a wall toward whichrefuse material or the like is to be compacted in said cabinet andhaving a tubular reciprocative compaction blade in said cabinet with amaterial-contacting end wall and a side wall extending away therefrom,means for moving said blade, with its end wall leading, from a firstposition away from said wall of said cabinet to a second position closerto said wall of said cabinet and for returning said blade to said firstposition, said blade moving means comprising a pair of fluid-driven ramshaving cylinders mounted at opposite sides of said cabinet along thedirection of movement of said blade and having pistons with piston rodsextending therefrom away from said cabinet wall to a region of saidblade adjacent the end thereof remote from said end wall, wheresaid'rods are coupled to said blade for moving said blade conjointly,said piston rods being drawn into said cylinders toward said cabinetwall to move said blade to said second position, and the side wall ofsaid blade extending for a substantial distance between said cylinderswhen said blade is at said second position, and means for guiding thereciprocative movement of said blade, said guiding means comprisingmeans coupled to said blade at different regions along the length ofsaid side wall for preventing substantial lateral movement of the sidewall of said blade in any direction perpendicular to said reciprocativemovement.

2. Compaction apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidguidingmeans comprises tubular means receiving said blade, said tubular meanshaving a pair of slots at opposite sides thereof extending'along thedirection of movement of said blade, said piston rods being coupled tosaid blade by means extending through and movable along said slots.

3. Compaction apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said guidingmeans comprises a pair of channels extending along the direction ofblade movement at opposite sides of said blade and elements fixed tosaid blade and guided by said channels.

4, Compaction apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said guidingmeans comprises bar elements coupling said rods to said blade andchannels receiving and guiding said bar elements.

1. Compaction apparatus comprising a cabinet having a wall toward whichrefuse material or the like is to be compacted in said cabinet andhaving a tubular reciprocative compaction blade in said cabinet with amaterial-contacting end wall and a side wall extending away therefrom,means for moving said blade, with its end wall leading, from a firstposition away from said wall of said cabinet to a second position closerto said wall of said cabinet and for returning said blade to said firstposition, said blade moving means comprising a pair of fluid-driven ramshaving cylinders mounted at opposite sides of said cabinet along thedirection of movement of said blade and having pistons with piston rodsextending therefrom away from said cabinet wall to a region of saidblade adjacent the end thereof remote from said end wall, where saidrods are coupled to said blade for moving said blade conjointly, saidpiston rods being drawn into said cylinders toward said cabinet wall tomove said blade to said second position, and the side wall of said bladeextending for a substantial distance between said cylinders when saidblade is at said second position, and means for guiding thereciprocative movement of said blade, said guiding means comprisingmeans coupled to said blade at different regions along the length ofsaid side wall for preventing substantial lateral movement of the sidewall of said blade in any direction perpendicular to said reciprocativemovement.
 2. Compaction apparatus in accordance with claim 1, whereinsaid guiding means comprises tubular means receiving said blade, saidtubular means having a pair of slots at opposite sides thereof extendingalong the direction of movement of said blade, said piston rods beingcoupled to said blade by means extending through and movable along saidslots.
 3. Compaction apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidguiding means comprises a pair of channels extending along the directionof blade movement at opposite sides of said blade and elements fixed tosaid blade and guided by said channels.
 4. Compaction apparatus inaccordance with claim 1, wherein said guiding means comprises barelements coupling said rods to said blade and channels receiving andguiding said bar elements.